Welcome to the Reader’s new cannabis column To Be Blunt. We’re here to answer your canna questions with the help of budtenders, attorneys, medical practitioners, chefs, researchers, legislators, and patient care advocates. Send your queries to tobeblunt@chicagoreader.com.
We’ve enlisted Larry Mishkin, a local attorney who specializes in cannabis law, to tackle this one for us. His response, which has been edited for length and clarity, is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice.
In other words, traveling from Seattle to Los Angeles with marijuana purchased in Washington breaks the laws of both states and federal law. This is true even though both Washington and California have active adult-use programs. Similarly, if you are a medical marijuana patient you may not transport your medicine across state lines, even if both states have active medical marijuana programs. This includes mailing marijuana to your travel destination.
Finally, be cautious about traveling with CBD. Though it’s now unequivocally legal at the federal level, its legality varies from state to state. Also, many people cannot distinguish between marijuana and hemp-related products, including CBD. If you are seen consuming CBD or if it is discovered during a routine traffic stop or other travel-related inspection, at a minimum, your CBD may be confiscated.
